Multi-level parking apparatus

ABSTRACT

A multi-level parking apparatus consists of a number of superimposed platforms which are rigidly coupled together to form a unitary structure which can be raised or lowered in a groundcavity to bring different parking platforms into register with a vehicle run-on. Guide elements associated with this structure and with the cavity cooperate to give support and stability to the assembly.

[ 1 Feb. 18, 1975 Primary ExaminerRobert J. Spar Assistant Examiner-R. B. Johnson Attorney, Agent,-0r Firml-lolman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT A multi-level parking apparatus consists of a number of superimposed platforms which are rigidly coupled together to form a unitary structure which can be raised or lowered in a ground-cavity to bring different parking platforms into register with a vehicle run-on. Guide elements associated with this structure and with the cavity cooperate to give support and stability to MULTI-LEVEL PARKING APPARATUS Kaspar Klaus, 46 Schlachthofstrasse, 894 Memmingen, Germany Filed: July 28, 1972 Appl. No.: 276,036

.. 214/l6.l E

Int. E04h 6/06 Field of Search... 214/16.l R, 16.1 E, 161 EC References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1930 Flannery...................... 2l4/16.1 EC

United States Patent [191 Klaus [76] Inventor:

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures m a gt Z m v 727 221.43. a Q U m 5 3 1 R K m j lrhlfiug .l m m H. 7 5 E 5. MM to l l s L S N m T A m L P n P A .a u v s e a a R a w 3 S m Tm m & E T 34A 9 HUN 2805 MU W ,F 77 3 200 9 22 l PATENTEDFEB 1 81975 SHEET u 0F 4 LJL MULTI-LEVEL PARKING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for parking a plurality of vehicles one above another, or stacked, comprising a plurality of superimposed platforms connected together in a rigid structure so that they can be raised and lowered as awhole, through the agency of guide elements on the structure cooperating with fixed guide elements, and in which a drive-on area with which the various platforms may be brought into register in turn by the raising and lowering of the structure.

There are apparatus of the kind set forth known in the prior art which are usually of the cage type and are installed in buildings. The conveyor cage has a plurality of superimposed platforms on which the vehicles can be parked. In other similar apparatus a conveyor means in the nature of a Paternoster are provided to cater for parking places for the vehicles.

Apparatus ofthe character described enables a comparatively large number of vehicles to be accommodated on a limited ground area. Five or more platforms can be arranged one above another. In apparatus of the foregoing kind based on the conveyor cage principle, the building structure must have an elevation above the vehicle entrance level approximating that beneath this level. In the case of apparatus which work on the Paternoster principle the space requirements are somewhat less. but in both instances a building of not inconsiderable height above ground level is required.

Parking buildings of this height and type are frequently undesirable in built-up areas. The same applies to multi-storey parking stations. Underground garages admittedly avoid overground buildings, but they are expensive and difficult to install in comparison with apparatus working on the cage or Paternoster principle.

Parking apparatus is also known in which two vehicles are arranged on each of two platforms, one above the other, and in which these platforms can be moved so that one entrance end of one or the other of the platforms is connected to the drive-on area. Apparatus of this kind' are particularly intended for basement garages where'there is a different parking problem. This latter type of parking apparatus does not help to solve the problem set forth in the preamble because the ca- LII pacity is comparatively small in relation to the ground area which is occupied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle parking apparatus which is of comparatively large capacity in relation to the ground area occupied, which avoids the building costs involved in elevated and underground garages, and is of an elevation such that it can readily be disposed out of sight.

The invention resides in a multi-level parking apparatus to accommodate a plurality of vehicles and comprising a plurality of superimposed platforms connected together in a rigid structure, movable guide members on the structure cooperating with fixed guide members, and means for raising and lowering the structure through the agency of the movable and fixed guide members, and comprises the improvement in which the structure is disposed within cavity-defining means with which a vehicle drive-on area is associated and in which the guide members comprise a plurality of fixed upright guide elements associated with the cavity-defining means and extending substantially to the level of the drive-on area, and a plurality of movable guide elements associated with the structure and engaging .telescopically with the fixed guide elements so as to overlap them when the structure is in a raised position.

The invention thus provides a parking apparatus the essential parts of which are all arranged below ground or the drive-on level. In the retracted condition of the structure only minor parts project above the drive-on level, and even these could be eliminated altogether if required. It is in fact recognized that the obtrusion of the structure above ground, if only temporary is not objectionable if the major part at least of the apparatus is invisible in the normalretracted condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGS v Embodiments of the invention are diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawings of apparatus according to the invention which .will now be described. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of one apparatus according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a front view of a modified embodiment of the invention, in a different operative position,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic illustrations of parts of the apparatus,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are horizontal sections through details,

and.

FIGS. 7 to 9 are diagrammatic plan views of platforms in accordance with modified constructions within the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the illustration given in FIG. 1 the drive-on of the apparatus is designated 3. If desired, drive-ons may be provided at both sides of the device to enable the drivein and drive-off to take place in the same direction of travel. The operative structure comprises platforms 5, 6 and 15 which are of substantially the same size and are arranged one above another. Each of these platforms may be dimensioned to accommodate one vehicle or a plurality of vehicles. An arrangement in which two vehicles are disposed side-by-side has proven very useful. FIG. shows the structure in raised condition and in a position such that the lowermost platform 15 registers with the drive-in 3 and can therefore receive a vehicle.

A storage cavity 16 is provided below the arrangement illustrated in FIG. I, and fixed guide elements I are provided on the'walls of this cavity. Because these guide elements are of substantial length and bear against the walls of the cavity there is no difficulty in securing andsupporting them rigidly. Platforms l5, 5 and 6 may be interconnected by various means. Movable guide elements 4 are provided for this purpose in FIG. 1.

Since the upper end 2 of the fixed guide elements 1 are only a comparatively short distance above the level of the drive-in 3, the platforms and movable guide elements 4 project substantially from this upper end 2 when they are raised. A cross member 7 is provided bealternatively be at the level of this platform without the stability of the structure being appreciably altered.

It has been found useful ifthe upper end 2 is disposed above the level of the drive-in 3 by about the height of one parking area. This is of advantage because it means that the lower ends of the movable guide elements can be raised to the level of the drive-in 3 without impairing the stability of the structure in the raised condition.

In special instances the projection of guide elements 1 above the level of the drive-in 3 can be dispensed with, namely either when the movable guide elements 4 are extended to below the lower platform or telescopic connecting members are provided between the guide elements 1 and 4.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the power pack 12 for raising and lowering the platform are represented by piston-cylinder units, which are arranged parallel to the guide elements. A power pack of this kind is very simple and consists only of a small number of parts. The piston-cylinder system of FIG. 1 is very readily accessible. Moreover, the pistons can be repaired externally of chamber 16. The arrangement could be reversed and the cylinder in each case mounted above the piston rod, in which event the ends of this rod would have a support at the bottom of chamber 16.

It will be appreciated that other power means could be used instead of the piston-cylinder system described, for example mechanical devices such as spindles, cables, chains, racks, and so on.

The lines 17 in FIG. 1 designate a further platform assembly of an adjacent device. It will be appreciated that a plurality of such devices of the kind shown in FIG. 1 can be used side-by-side.

The diagrammatic illustration in FIG. 2 shows a device according to the invention in retracted status, and here the upper platform 6 is provided with a roof 8 which participates in the reciprocating movements of the device. The flat structure, even with the roof 8, is not greatly obtrusive at the exterior. The device is only raised for short periods. One raised condition of the roof 8 is indicated by dotted lines 28 in FIG. 2.

The roof with its associated side walls prevents unauthorised access to the upper platform 6. This for example means security against theft because the complete device will advantageously always be retracted when not in use. A further anti-theft arrangement is provided if the upper platform 6, as shown in FIG. 3, is somewhat retracted below ground level or, as FIG. 4 shows, is slightly raised above this level. If the version of FIG. 4 is chosen the fixed guide elements 1, which have only been shown in chain dotted lines in FIGS. 2 to 4, may be arranged at a somewhat higher level.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show parts of the partition wall between adjacent cavities 16. In FIG. 5 a vertical double- T beam 13 is incorporated in the partition wall 18 so this character, or like means, can also of course be used in other modifications of the invention.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 the power units 12 are provided laterally of the guide elements. They could in fact be enclosed in these elements.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show other embodiments of the invention. In the embodiments so far described the guide elements were arranged laterally of'the platforms and the movable elements were interconnected by a cross member 7. In the arrangements of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, however, the guide elements are arranged centrally of the platforms. The movable guide elements 21, 22 and 23 in these cases surround the fixed guide elements 24, 25 and 26.

In the embodiments of FIG. 7 guide elements 21 and 24 are tubes of rectangular section which may be provided with additional rollers for guidance and support, for example as shown in FIG. 6 in another variation of the invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 8 the guide elements 22 and 25 are in the form of cylindrical tubes. In the embodiment of FIG. 9 the guide elements 23 and 26 are of cruciform cross section.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 7 to 9 the guide elements are such as to provide for the parking arrange ments of vehicles 27 indicated in dotted lines. From 9 these diagrams it is clear that the guide elements will as to present a U-section 14 facing the adjacent cavities. This U-section 14 in each case encloses a corresponding power unit 12 which may have the construction illustrated in FIG. 1. This protects the unit.

Two U-section parts 14 are provided in the modification of FIG. 6, one of these facing one cavity 16 and the other section the other cavity. Each of these sections includes movable guide elements 4 which in turn carry the platform 5. FIG 6 further shows rollers 19 and 20 which are to be arranged appropriately at the upper end of the fixed guide element 1 andthe lower end of the movable guide elements 4 respectively. Rollers of advantageously be positioned in a space between the parked vehicles which does not necessarily have to be left free. The embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8are particularly suited to instances where the length of recipro eating stroke of the structure need only be small and where the loads also are small, because the cross sectional areas of the guide elements, and hence their rigidity, is limited. The embodiment of FIG. 9 however, will provide greater rigidity.

The invention can be modified in various ways. Thus for example the platforms may to some extent be tiltable, as known per se, for example to save heightwise space in the retracted condition or to improve the drive-on conditions. In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, the drive-ins 3 could be arranged at different levels so that the structure could be arranged to operate at different heights.

In practical use of a parking system according to the invention, each would-be parking drive will use an operating key which will enable him to bring the platform combination to a particular level.

I claim:

1. In a multi-level parking apparatus to accomodate a plurality of vehicles comprising a plurality of superimposed platforms connected together in a rigid structure, movable guide members disposed onsaid structure cooperating with fixed guide members, and means for raising and lowering said structure through the agency of said movable and fixed guide members, wherein the improvement comprises said structure being disposed within cavity-defining means with which a vehicle drive-on area is associated and wherein said guide members comprise a plurality of fixed upright guide elements associated with said cavity-defining means and a plurality of movable guide elements associated with said structure and engaging telescopically with said structure and engaging telescopically with said fixed guide elements so as to overlap them when said structure is in a raised position, said movable guide elements being adjustable in their height so that in a lowered position said structure is disposed substantially below the ground, said movable guide elements being disposed on opposite sides and near the central portion of the plat-. form structure and extending beyond the uppermost platform, a cross member, said guide elements being interconnected by said cross member.

2. In a multi-level parking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixed guide members are disposed in register with said movable guide members and have their upper ends extending beyond the drive-on area by an amount substantially corresponding to the height of a vehicle parking area.

3. In a multi-level parking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movable structure is provided with a roof above the uppermost platform.

4. In a multi-level parking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixed guide members comprise upright U-section elements which are disposed with the open side of the channel facing said platforms and embracing said movable guide members and said means for raising and lowering said structure.

5. In a multi-level parking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixed guide members comprise upright U-section elements embracing said movable guide members and said means for raising and lowering said structure are disposed externally of and alongside the channels of said U-section elements. 

1. In a multi-level parking apparatus to accomodate a plurality of vehicles comprising a plurality of superimposed platforms connected together in a rigid structure, movable guide members disposed on said structure cooperating with fixed guide members, and means for raising and lowering said structure through the agency of said movable and fixed guide members, wherin the improvement comprises said structure being disposed within cavity-defining means with which a vehicle drive-on area is associated and wherein said guide members comprise a plurality of fixed upright guide elements associated with said cavity-defining means and a plurality of movable guide elements associated with said structure and engaging telescopically with said structure and engaging telescopically with said fixed guide elements so as to overlap them when said structure is in a raised position, said movable guide elements being adjustable in their height so that in a lowered position said structure is disposed substantially below the ground, said movable guide elements being disposed on opposite sides and near the central portion of the platform structure and extending beyond the uppermost platform, a cross member, said guide elements being interconnected by said cross member.
 2. In a multi-level parking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixed guide members are disposed in register with said movable guide members and have their upper ends extending beyond the drive-on area by an amount substantially corresponding to the height of a vehicle parking area.
 3. In a multi-level parking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movable structure is provided with a roof above the uppermost platform.
 4. In a multi-level parking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixed guide members comprise upright U-section elements which are disposed with the open side of the channel facing said platforms and embracing said movable guide members and said means for raising and lowering said structure.
 5. In a multi-level parking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixed guide members comprise upright U-section elements embracing said movable guide members and said means for raising and lowering said structure are disposed externally of and alongside the channels of said U-section elements. 